Sammy Barker

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Sammy Barker·May 8, 2018

Critic40/100

Agreement—

AO International Tennis went wide with its first service, and double faults at second attempt.

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Sammy Barker·May 6, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Super Mega Baseball 2 looks like a straightforward arcade game and it can be if you want it to be – but there's a surprising amount of depth to this colourful sequel that will keep you coming back. The game's vibrant presentation and frenetic flow set it apart from MLB The Show, and its raft of customisation options mean that you can tailor it to your tastes. Some cumbersome controls can grate, but if you're looking for a baseball game a little less serious than Sony's, then this is a great alternative.

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Sammy Barker·Apr 29, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Home Run Derby VR makes the act of slugging entertaining, thanks to good PlayStation Move motion tracking and a strong balance between arcade and simulation gameplay. But the price of entry is far too high for a title that only includes three stadiums and one game type – even if it is ultimately rather entertaining to play.

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Sammy Barker·Apr 12, 2018

Critic100/100

Agreement—

God of War is a special game. This reimagining of the famous PlayStation franchise elevates the series in unexpected ways, without forgetting the core tenets that made Kratos a fan-favourite to begin with. This is a sprawling single player epic with an abundance of secrets and a storyline that keeps you hooked from start-to-finish. While it borrows liberally from other action adventure greats, its unique combat and outstanding artistic direction separate it from its immediate peers. A truly impressive achievement.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 27, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

For a series that's defined by its tardiness, Pure Farming 2018 leans a little too heavily on the slow side for our liking. This is a perfect first choice for newcomers, though, as its campaign walks you through every single element of agricultural “action” – and there's a helluva lot to wrap your head around. The various environments could do with a little more visual identity, but they offer unique challenges that make them worth playing. And while the quick-fix challenge mode won't keep purists occupied for long, we certainly appreciate the attempt at distilling the title's gameplay into short session bursts.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 27, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

A strong finale to another quality series, we've really enjoyed getting up close and personal with Gotham's goons.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 26, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

R.B.I. Baseball 18 doesn't really need to exist on the PS4, which is an issue. While it's competent enough to register a clean hit, The Show runs laps around the title in virtually every department. Yes, it's cheaper and more accessible than Sony's vastly superior alternative – but we still wouldn't recommend pinch hitting San Diego's effort for this.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 25, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

John Doe's unpredictability continues to be the highlight in a season that's seen Bruce Wayne's role become ever more important than the titular Dark Knight. While short, this is a solid episode that puts plenty of interesting plot threads into play, but with the finale around the corner, there's very little resolution – merely setup for that all-important fifth episode.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 18, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

On the title's tenth anniversary, Burnout Paradise Remastered is a timely reminder that – like Avril Lavigne – this arcade racer can still do it better than all of its contemporaries. Seriously, there's no other like it, so when's it going to sink in? The only real downside is that the pricing's stupid – what the hell is EA thinkin'?

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Sammy Barker·Mar 13, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

The Council has impressive ambitions – even if its execution is not up to scratch. You'll already know whether its alternate history backdrop appeals to you, but it's the RPG elements that threaten to disrupt the narrative genre. We already like what this series is doing, but the writing and voice acting leaves a little to be desired. That said, this is a solid start, even if it is a bit too early to come to any conclusions about the overall story just yet.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 7, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

This is a Farewell for Life Is Strange fans, but Deck Nine once again does an outstanding job of telling a heart-wrenching tale within what is, effectively, someone else's story. DONTNOD may be the creators of this wonderful slice of life series, but the American developer's done an impressive job of furthering the fiction with Before the Storm – and this episode ties a big fat bow around Max and Chloe's yarn for good. Now, what's next?

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Sammy Barker·Mar 6, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Bravo Team's tactical combat is a good fit for virtual reality, and it's exciting peeking out of cover in order to take pot shots.

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Sammy Barker·Mar 3, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Suicide Guy is not the disaster we feared it would be, and in places it's actually rather funny. The title's randomness stops its campaign from getting stale, and there are actually some cunning puzzles here that are fun to solve. Despite all of that, though, it's quite a disposable game that's fun while it lasts but will be quickly forgotten.

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Sammy Barker·Feb 17, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Knockout League's colourful cast of characters look chunky in PlayStation VR, and stepping into the ring with them is an immersive treat.

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Sammy Barker·Feb 16, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

When two outrageously detailed character models are slugging it out, EA Sports UFC 3 feels sublime. Incredible animations paired with a weighty physics system mean that you feel the thrills and spills of every bout. Unfortunately, the clunky ground game combat fails to hit the same highs, and the campaign – which is a novelty to begin with – loses its lustre after a few rounds. There's still a lot to like here and more than enough content to sink your fists into, but it still feels like there's a bit more refinement required before this series achieves G.O.A.T. status.